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Town Hall Education and Training Series

Year 1:

  • Thursday, April 3, 2025, 10-11:30 a.m.

Closeouts 101

Presenters: 

Jen Crockett, MBA, MPA, Sr. Grants and Contracts Analyst, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Tamara Hill, PhD, CRA, Associate Vice President, Research Operations and Finance, Morehouse School of Medicine

Closeouts are a key part of the award lifecycle. However, it is often the lowest on the list of priorities. This oversight results in the creation of a backlog and can have financial consequences for the institution. Come join us for an interactive session to learn more about why closeouts are important and how to properly prepare for the closeout stage of the award.

  •  Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 10-11:30 a.m.

You're Spending How Much Time on That?
Effort management and certification for faculty and staff 

Presenter:

Patrick Lennon, MPA, CRA, Administrator for Research, Department of Pediatrics, UW Medicine, University of Washington; NCURA Region VI 2025 Vice Chair/Chair-Elect

Tracking faculty and staff effort and maintaining compliance with applicable regulations can feel like a never-ending challenge in research administration. In some cases, research administrators end up responsible for overseeing non-research effort as well simply because there is research involved. We'll review the challenges associated with effort management and discuss strategies for success.

  • Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 10-11:30 a.m.

Audit Hot Topics

Presenter: 

Kim Melville-Smith, MS, MBA, CRA, CFRA, Director of Post-Award, Office of Sponsored Programs, Colorado State University

As the landscape of university research continues to evolve, so do the risks and compliance responsibilities that research administrators must manage. This session will explore emerging audit trends and hot topics affecting sponsored research. Attendees will gain practical insights into common audit findings, evolving regulatory expectations, and strategies to proactively strengthen compliance. Real-world case studies will highlight both challenges and successful responses, equipping research administrators with tools to better support their institutions.